Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports of the increased risk of serious COVID-19 related illness in the over 60s, what work they are conducting to assess the increased risk of over 60s working in the care system, and in particular, those who have come out of retirement to support services during the pandemic.[T]

We are very grateful to all those working in social care for their incredible commitment to caring for others at this difficult time; we are especially thankful to those who have returned to work or come out of retirement to support services to deliver the best possible care.

We expect every employer to ensure that each employee is undertaking a role that is appropriate to their skills, experience, and personal circumstances. This is the case whether the employee is a permanent member of staff, or somebody who has returned to the sector to help care for and support people during the pandemic. Where, because of their own circumstances, an employee needs to shield themselves, then a social care employer is able to place these staff on furlough.